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E00009: Gregory of Tours, in his Life of *Abraham (abbot at Clermont, ob. 477, S00005), recounts how, at the feast of *Cyricus/Kyrikos (child martyr of Tarsus, S00007) in Clermont (central Gaul), Abraham miraculously multiplied the wine needed for those invited. From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/594.
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posted on 2014-08-28, 00:00 authored by admin, dlambertGregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers 3.1
The episode recounted below happens after Abraham has come to Clermont and established a monastery at the church of St Cyricus.
Igitur cum festivitas supradictae basilicae advenisset, praepositum vocat, ut vasa vino plena ad reficiendum populum, qui solemnitati aderat, in atrio ex more conponeret. Causatur monachus, dicens: "Ecce episcopum cum duce et civibus invitatum habes, et vix nobis supersunt quattuor vini amphorae, unde omnia ista conplebis?" Et ille: "Aperite", inquid, "mihi poenum". Quo aperto, ingressus est; et dans orationem, quasi novus Helias, elevatis ad caelum manibus, infusis fletu luminibus, ait: "Ne deficiat, quaeso, Domine, de hoc vasculo vinum, donec cunctis ministretur in abundantiam", et, inruente in se Spiritu sancto, ait: "Haec dicit Dominus: Non deficiet vinum de vase, sed omnibus petentibus affatim tribuetur, et abundabit".
Verumtamen ad verbum et hilaritatem dispensationis illius cuncto populo in abundantia ministratum est, et superfuit.
Sed quia strenuitas praepositi prius mensuraverat vasculum quinquagenarium et reppererat quattuor palmorum mensuram, cernens quae acta fuerant, in crastino iterum mensurans, tantum repperit in vase, quantum in eo praecedente reliquerat die. Ex hoc sancti virtus in populis declarata est.
'Then, when the feast of this church had come, he told the prior to prepare a jar of wine, as usual, in the forecourt of the church, for the refreshment of the people who were at the ceremonies. The monk complained, saying, "Look, you've invited the bishop, the duke and the citizens, and there are scarcely four jars of wine left. Where are we going to get enough wine for all these people?" And he replied, "Open the cellar!" That was done, and he entered and prays, like a new Elijah, lifting his hands to heaven, with his eyes full of tears: "O Lord, I pray that wine shall not be lacking in this jar until all have received an abundance." And he is filled with the Holy Spirit, and cries, "This saith the Lord: the wine shall not lack in this jar, but all those who ask for it shall have enough, and there shall be an abundance left over."
And it happened as he had said: it was served in profusion to all the people, who drank of it happily, and there was wine left over. The conscientious prior had previously measured the jar, which was a size to contain 50 measures, and had found that it contained only four hands; seeing what had happened, he measured it again the following day, and found there was as much wine in the jar as before. The power of the saint was thus made manifest to all.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 222-223. Translation: James 1991, 18-19.
The episode recounted below happens after Abraham has come to Clermont and established a monastery at the church of St Cyricus.
Igitur cum festivitas supradictae basilicae advenisset, praepositum vocat, ut vasa vino plena ad reficiendum populum, qui solemnitati aderat, in atrio ex more conponeret. Causatur monachus, dicens: "Ecce episcopum cum duce et civibus invitatum habes, et vix nobis supersunt quattuor vini amphorae, unde omnia ista conplebis?" Et ille: "Aperite", inquid, "mihi poenum". Quo aperto, ingressus est; et dans orationem, quasi novus Helias, elevatis ad caelum manibus, infusis fletu luminibus, ait: "Ne deficiat, quaeso, Domine, de hoc vasculo vinum, donec cunctis ministretur in abundantiam", et, inruente in se Spiritu sancto, ait: "Haec dicit Dominus: Non deficiet vinum de vase, sed omnibus petentibus affatim tribuetur, et abundabit".
Verumtamen ad verbum et hilaritatem dispensationis illius cuncto populo in abundantia ministratum est, et superfuit.
Sed quia strenuitas praepositi prius mensuraverat vasculum quinquagenarium et reppererat quattuor palmorum mensuram, cernens quae acta fuerant, in crastino iterum mensurans, tantum repperit in vase, quantum in eo praecedente reliquerat die. Ex hoc sancti virtus in populis declarata est.
'Then, when the feast of this church had come, he told the prior to prepare a jar of wine, as usual, in the forecourt of the church, for the refreshment of the people who were at the ceremonies. The monk complained, saying, "Look, you've invited the bishop, the duke and the citizens, and there are scarcely four jars of wine left. Where are we going to get enough wine for all these people?" And he replied, "Open the cellar!" That was done, and he entered and prays, like a new Elijah, lifting his hands to heaven, with his eyes full of tears: "O Lord, I pray that wine shall not be lacking in this jar until all have received an abundance." And he is filled with the Holy Spirit, and cries, "This saith the Lord: the wine shall not lack in this jar, but all those who ask for it shall have enough, and there shall be an abundance left over."
And it happened as he had said: it was served in profusion to all the people, who drank of it happily, and there was wine left over. The conscientious prior had previously measured the jar, which was a size to contain 50 measures, and had found that it contained only four hands; seeing what had happened, he measured it again the following day, and found there was as much wine in the jar as before. The power of the saint was thus made manifest to all.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 222-223. Translation: James 1991, 18-19.
History
Evidence ID
E00009Saint Name
Kyrikos, 3rd c. child martyr in Tarsus, son of *Julitta : S00007 Abraham, abbot in Clermont (Gaul), ob. 476/7 : S00005Saint Name in Source
Ciricus AbrahamRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Lives of saintLanguage
LatinEvidence not before
573Evidence not after
593Activity not after
477Place of Evidence - Region
Gaul and Frankish kingdomsPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
ToursPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Tours Tours Tours Toronica urbs Prisciniacensim vicus Pressigny Turonorum civitas Ceratensis vicus CéréMajor author/Major anonymous work
Gregory of ToursCult activities - Festivals
- Saint’s feast
Cult activities - Places
Cult building - independent (church)Cult activities - Activities Accompanying Cult
- Feasting (eating, drinking, dancing, singing, bathing)